While playing around with my Fabric Flower techniques I developed these insect brooches. The possibilities are endless and the results enchanting. I hope to do a PDF with these and the fabric flowers soon...

Last weeks 'Summer Blooms Class' at the Castle was a huge success! Eight wonderful women joined me in creating a garden full of lovely accessories! Necklaces, hairbands, hat ornaments and brooches all took shape in this day of 'Blooming' creativity. BRAVO!!!

Last week I spent a wonderful day at the Castle teaching a variety of Fabric Flower Techniques to 10 women! What fun they had! Eye catching textural flowers became necklaces, brooches and even a facinator! Everyone made their first 'learning' flowers of the same color palette, (look closely and you will see similar flowers in each piec and then spent the afternoon expanding on this palette or creating their own personal version. Wonderful Success!!!

If you wish to join in the fun of making fabric flowers, I will be teaching a complementary class to this one at the Castle on June 16th called 'Summer Blooms'. We will explore similar and entirely different techniques in creating more textural beauties! To sign up go HERE!

Three more Marionettes have joined the Marionette Class Theatrical! Here you see a delightful Pixie with true Pixie attitude and a 'Tired Old Owl' who holds shop in an antique pharmacy. (More tales Here) And then, hopping in happiness, is this wonderful little bunny, completely transformed from her original vision - happy as can be with her little felted chick friend!

Have you ever wondered how to tempt a fairy into your garden? Here is the perfect answer! I have created a Gilded Fairy Chair Tutorial, that you can download free HERE! A miniature version of my French Wedding Chair, this delightful little Dresden wonder will surely make you popular among the fey!!!

If you have not done so yet, please also take this opportunity to sign up for the Castle's Crafting Newsletter and Class Schedule HERE! (Newsletters will now only be sent out via email.)

The Marionette class over the weekend at the Castle, was a huge success! As you can see from the unpainted heads above, there was a large cast of characters that took shape! Not everyone was able to finish their puppets, but fun was had by all! Among the completed marionettes was a wonderful Nun, in full habit, whose alter ego enjoys playing at 'Burning Man'!

We were also visited by a saucy young lady, with red eyes and a bit of a snarl, dressed in lace and nano felting. Just look at those slippers!

A very 'Dolly' like Ballerina with glittery legs, took spins on our floor! She is wearing a very chic ballon-like French Dress, complete with sexy undergarments!

The last marionette to be completed in class was 'Mossy Fine-Fernfeather of the Fine-Fernfeather Clan from Oak Grove North of Marshy Glen'! A dashing young man with red hair and striped nickers! I was just told this morning that "he's in good health, subsisting on dew drops, flower petals, fairy cakes & vanilla soy lattes." Doesn't get much better than that!

We wait patiently for updates on a lovely little fairy, created by the Castles resident 8 year old princess, seen here ironing her fairies costume.

Also awaiting in the wings of this grand performance are a handsome winged Owl who is a pharmacist by profession, a mischievous calico kitty cat, a dainty little lady, and Papageno the Birdcatcher, from theMagic Flute!

I created this little 'SuperBug' Marionette as a sample for my class tomorrow. She's all ready to be strung up and start dancing! Ten students will join me this weekend at the CASTLE, to create their own Marionettes! More photos soon!